Siliguri: Binay Tamang, chairman of the Board of
Administrators of the GTA, on Saturday "disclosed" details of the
projects taken up by the development body across the hills since
September 2017, when the board was formed.
Tamang was speaking at a programme organised by the GTA in Jogi Ghat, Mungpoo, around 50 km from here.
At the event, huge hoardings, mentioning details of projects
taken up and completed by the BoA under the chairmanship of Tamang in
the Kalimpong district and in the sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Mirik and
Kurseong of Darjeeling district were displayed, along with the money
allocated for each project.
As per the details, the BoA has finished 29 projects so far in hills.
"Earlier, people in the hills had no inkling about the
projects taken up by GTA. Money allotted and spent, project's status of
implementation and other similar information was not available in public
domain. But we have been working in a transparent manner and so,
furnished the details of all projects taken up since the Board of
Administrators had been formed," said Tamang.
Tamang also laid foundation stones of as 53 projects, which would be taken up in these areas.
The decision to furnish details of such projects - a rare in
recent years - is a part of the political strategy of Tamang lobby of
the Morcha, opined observers.
"First of all, there are allegations of corruption and
siphoning of government funds by the GTA during the regime of Bimal
Gurung. Secondly, the GNLF of late, has started demanding that a neutral
or apolitical person must be put in the chairman's post instead of
Binay Tamang," pointed an observer.
The Telegraph